Support from parents is key to helping kids do well academically. Here are 10 ways parents can put their kids on track to be successful students.

1. Attend Back-to-School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences

Kids do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending back-to-school night at the start of the school year is a great way to get to know your child's teachers and their expectations. 

Attending parent-teacher conferences is another way to stay informed. These are usually held once or twice a year at progress reporting periods. The conferences are a chance to start or continue conversations with your child's teacher, and discuss strategies to help your child do his or her best in class. Meeting with the teacher also lets your child know that what goes on in school will be shared at home.

If your child has special learning needs, additional meetings can be scheduled with teachers and other school staff to consider setting up or revising IEP's 504 educational plans, or gifted educational plans. 
Keep in mind that parents or guardians can request meetings with teachers, principals, school counselors, or other school staff any time during the school year.

2. Visit the School and Its Website

Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can help you connect with your child when you talk about the school day. It's good to know the location of the main office, school nurse, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields, playgrounds, auditorium, and special classes.

On the school website, you can find information about:

• the school calendar
• staff contact information
• upcoming events like class trips
• testing dates

3. Support Homework Expectations

Homework in elementary school reinforces and extends classroom learning and helps kids practice important study skills. It also helps them develop a sense of responsibility and a work ethic that will benefit them beyond the classroom.

In addition to making sure your child knows that you see homework as a priority, you can help by creating an effective study environment. Any well-lit, comfortable, and quiet workspace with the necessary supplies will do. Avoiding distractions (like a TV  in the background) and setting up a start and end time can also help.

A good rule of thumb for an effective homework and/or study period is roughly 10 minutes per elementary grade level. Fourth-graders, for example, should expect to have about 40 minutes of homework or studying each school night. If you find that it's often taking significantly longer than this guideline, talk with your child's teacher.

While your child does homework, be available to interpret assignment instructions, offer guidance, answer questions, and review the completed work. But resist the urge to provide the correct answers or complete the assignments yourself. Learning from mistakes is part of the process and you don't want to take this away from your child.

4. Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn

A good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast fuels up kids and gets them ready for the day. In general, kids who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school. Kids who eat breakfast also are less likely to be absent and make fewer trips to the school nurse with stomach complaints related to hunger.

You can help boost your child's attention span, concentration, and memory by providing breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein, as well as low in added sugar. If your child is running late some mornings, send along fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Many schools provide nutritious breakfast options before the first bell.

Kids also need a good night of sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day. Most school-age kids need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. Bedtime difficulties can arise at this age for a variety of reasons. Homework, sports, after-school activities, TVs, computers, and video games, as well as hectic family schedules, can contribute to kids not getting enough sleep.

Lack of sleep can cause irritable or hyperactive behavior and might make it hard for kids to pay attention in class. It's important to have a consistent bedtime routine, especially on school nights. Be sure to leave enough time before bed to allow your child to unwind before lights out and limit stimulating diversions like TV and video games.

5. Teach Organizational Skills

When kids are organized, they can stay focused instead of spending time hunting things down and getting sidetracked.

Being organized in elementary school means having an assignment book and homework folder (many schools supply these) to keep track of homework and projects.

Check your child's assignment book and homework folder every school night so you are familiar with assignments and your child doesn't fall behind. Set up a bin for papers that you need to check or sign. Also, keep a special box or bin for completed and graded projects.

Talk to your child about keeping his or her school desk orderly so papers that need to come home don't get lost. Teach your child how to use a calendar or personal planner to help stay organized.

It's also helpful to teach your child how to make a to-do list to help prioritize and get things done. It can be as simple as:

1. homework
2. soccer
3. put clothes away

No one is born with great organizational skills — they need to be learned and practiced.

6. Teach Study Skills

Studying for a test can be scary for young kids, and many educators assume parents will help their kids during the grade-school years. Introducing your child to study skills now will pay off with good learning habits throughout life.

In elementary school, kids usually take end-of-unit tests in math, spelling, science, and social studies. Be sure to know when a test is scheduled so you can help your child study ahead of time rather than just the night before. You also might need to remind your child to bring home the right study materials, such as notes, study guides, or books.

Teach your child how to break down overall tasks into smaller, manageable chunks so preparing for a test isn't overwhelming. You also can introduce your child to tricks like mnemonic devices to help with recalling information. Remember that taking a break after a 45-minute study period is an important way to help kids process and remember information.

Your child probably will be introduced to standardized testing in elementary school. While students can't really study for standardized tests, some teachers provide practice tests to help ease students' worries.

In general, if studying and testing becomes a source of stress for your child, discuss the situation with the teacher or school counselor.

7. Know the Disciplinary Policies

Schools usually cite their disciplinary policies (sometimes called the student code of conduct) in student handbooks. The rules cover expectations, and consequences for not meeting the expectations, for things like student behavior, dress codes, use of electronic devices, and acceptable language.

The policies may include details about attendance, vandalism, cheating, fighting, and weapons. Many schools also have specific policies about bullying. It's helpful to know the school's definition of bullying, consequences for bullies, support for victims, and procedures for reporting bullying.

It's important for your child to know what's expected at school and that you'll support the school's consequences when expectations aren't met. It's easiest for students when school expectations match the ones at home, so kids see both environments as safe and caring places that work together as a team.

8. Get Involved

Whether kids are just starting kindergarten or entering their last year of elementary school, there are many good reasons for parents to volunteer at school. It's a great way for parents to show they're interested in their kids' education.

Many grade-schoolers like to see their parents at school or at school events. But follow your child's cues to find out how much interaction works for both of you. If your child seems uncomfortable with your presence at the school or with your involvement in an extracurricular activity, consider taking a more behind-the-scenes approach. Make it clear that you aren't there to spy — you're just trying to help out the school community.

Parents can get involved by:

• being a classroom helper or homeroom parent
• organizing and/or working at fundraising activities and other special events, like bake sales, car washes, and book fairs
• chaperoning field trips
• planning class parties
• attending school board meetings
• joining the school's parent-teacher group
• working as a library assistant
• reading a story to the class
• giving a talk for career day
• attending school concerts or plays

Check the school or teacher website to find volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule. Even giving a few hours during the school year can make a strong impression on your child.

9. Take Attendance Seriously

Of course, sick kids should stay home from school.  
Otherwise, it's important that kids arrive at school on time every day, because having to catch up with class work and homework can be stressful and interfere with learning.

If your child misses a lot of school due to illness,  make sure to check with the teacher about any work that needs to be completed. It's also a good idea to know the school's attendance policy.

Sometimes students want to stay home from school because of problems with classmates, assignments or grades, or even teachers. This can result in real symptoms, like headaches or stomachaches. If you think there's a problem at school, talk with your child — and then perhaps with the teacher — to find out more about what's causing the anxiety. The school counselor or  psychologist also might be able to help.

Also try to avoid late bedtimes, which can result in tardy and tired students. A consistent sleep schedule also can help students.

10. Make Time to Talk About School

It's usually easy to talk with elementary students about what's going on in class and the latest news at school. You probably know what books your child is reading and are familiar with the math being worked on. But parents can get busy and forget to ask the simple questions, which can have an effect on children's success at school.

Take time every day to talk to your child so he or she knows that what goes on at school is important to you. When kids know parents are interested in their academic lives, they'll take school seriously as well.

Because communication is a two-way street, the way you talk and listen to your child can influence how well your child listens and responds. It's important to listen carefully, make eye contact, and avoid multitasking while you talk. Be sure to ask questions that go beyond "yes" or "no" answers.

Besides during family meals, good times to talk include car trips (though eye contact isn't needed here, of course), walking the dog, preparing meals, or standing in line at a store.
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These early years of schooling are an important time for parents to be informed and supportive about their child's education and to set the stage for children to develop and grow as young learners.

       Studies have shown how being distracted can become a bad habit that ultimately decreases our effectiveness at work or in school.  Psychologists have identified new ways to help people overcome the hurdles that stand in the way of their productivity.  Here are some key strategies to enhance your productivity.

1.  Minimize Interruptions
            We are constantly bombarded by emails, ringing phones, text messages that reek havoc on our productivity.  When you need to concentrate and focus, find ways to create that space.  Put up a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your office door.  Turn your cell phone off.  Put your phone on silent and put the screen face-down so you can't see texts or notifications.  Study after study has shown that we, as humans, are not good at multi-tasking.  We think that we are but we are not.  These interruptions take us away from the task at hand. 

2.  Increase Attention Span in 15 Minute Increments
           One way to increase attention span and productivity, is to take a "technology break" after 15-minutes of uninterrupted work.  Give yourself a study or work break where you can check email, check alerts or texts, after completing 15 minutes of  uninterrupted work.  Once you master working for 15 minutes at a time, start increasing the time before taking a technology break.  Research has shown that taking small breaks allows us to maintain focus.  

3.  Write Down Your Goals To Boost Productivity
          We have all heard that setting goals is important but how to do this can seem elusive.  Establishing a habit of writing down your goals can boost performance and productivity.  The act of writing down a goal seems to make us accountable to the goal.  The act of writing down goals can also help us to become more reflective as we evaluate our goal outcomes and handle problems that may arise.

Here in the Bay Area, school for most children and teenagers is back in session.  While the summer weather still abounds, the school bell has rung, the new school supplies bought, and it is time to head back to school.  And while the transition is never easy, most students and most parents are already starting to dread the homework hassles.  We all know that having a consistent quiet place to do your homework, and to break big projects or large assignments down into smaller, more manageable chunks is best.  You can read a previous blog post of mine about this topic here.

There are plenty of other homework strategies that you might find useful. Here are some good blogs that discuss the homework hassles and how to handle them and thrive!

End the Nightly Homework Struggle: 5 Homework Strategies That Work for Kids

10 Homework Help Tips

8 Strategies that Spell Homework Success

Starting college, students usually have expectations about college life long before they actually leave home.  Some freshmen eagerly look forward to college and experiencing more freedom and adventure.  Other students may be enthusiastic about college initially, but then discover that their actual experience falls short of their expectations.  They don’t feel comfortable, happy, or secure in their new environment.  There are still other students who know that leaving home will be hard and dread the thought of saying good-bye to their friends and family, dread the idea of packing and going to college. 

​Nearly every individual encounters challenging experiences at the beginning of college that they did not anticipate.  The transition to college, a generally positive experience, can produce stress and place demands that can lead to varying emotions including sadness, loneliness, and worry.  These feelings are typical and part of the normal developmental transition to college.

Changes to Expect in the First Year of College

• Increased responsibility
• Increased personal freedom
• Managing time
• Different relationships and environments at college
• Changing relationships with friends and family at home

 
Many students welcome the freedom to make their own decisions about what they want to do each day while in college and other students struggle with this level of freedom.  Freshmen must decide when and how to study, socialize with new acquaintances, become involved in activities, exercise, manage their finances, and make time to eat and sleep. 

Students are faced, often for the first time, with the need to take more initiative to address responsibilities, such as scheduling their classes, buying personal items, making appointments to take care of health needs, asking professors and staff for help, and doing laundry. Freshmen have to adjust to new surroundings and negotiate conflicts with new roommates.

Frequent calls home from freshmen are common, especially during the first few months away at college. It may be very hard to say goodbye at the end of holiday or semester breaks. It may also be difficult to re-adjust to rules at home, such as curfews, chores or responsibilities for younger siblings. It is important to point out that parents also need to adjust during this period.

Many students leave high school boyfriends or girlfriends when they go to college. There may be disagreement about whether it is okay to make new friends or see other people. One, or both, partners may struggle with feeling lonely, sad, or jealous, especially if the other partner seems to be happier and adjusting better.

Easing the Transition:

·       Reach out to others in your dorm. You are likely to find that you are not the only one who is sad and upset. Your R.A. (Resident Adviser) is a good resource to talk to and to help you figure out how to cope. Upperclassmen may also be good people to turn to. They might want to share their experiences with you as well what they did to cope.

·     Join campus organizations and clubs that appeal to you. These activities do not have to be a perfect match for you, but can still help you to meet and interact with others who share similar interests and/or may also be looking to meet friends outside the dorm environment. It helps to get more involved!

·   Make an extra effort to take care of yourself, including making time to rest, eat balanced meals, exercise and avoid abusing alcohol or drugs. Try to develop a manageable schedule, including identifying your optimal place and time in the day to study.

·  Adjust your expectations if things are not working out as you planned. For example, your roommate might not be your best friend. You may need to initiate conversations about conflict over personal space and living habits. Try to give yourself some time to adjust. Recognize that relationships take time to develop (e.g. most students’ friendships from home formed over a period of years), and that your surroundings will become more familiar over time.

·     Seek out resources on campus that can help you address problems and get support, both academically and personally. These varied resources include your adviser, professors, your RA, and other university services such as the Counseling Center and the Student Services Center, Each of these resources will also assist in connecting you with other helpful resources on campus.
 

Homework is important.  By doing homework, children learn a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. Homework helps kids understand that learning doesn't stop at the end of the school day.  Taking pride in homework helps children experience the satisfaction of a job well done.

1. Design a specific, quiet area for homework.  Eliminate as much distraction as possible, including no TV or mobile devices.  Make sure there is adequate lighting.  Keep basic supplies nearby.

2.  Keep a routine.  Have a regular time to do homework each and every day.

3.  Encourage your child to divide the homework assignment into "What I can do myself" and "What I need help with." Only help your child with the homework that they cannot do independently.  This teaches your child responsibility and independence.

4.  When your child is assigned a large project that will require a few days or weeks to finish, help them to schedule their time and to break down the project into manageable pieces.

5.  Teach your child that studying is more than just doing homework. Encourage your child to take notes while reading a chapter, learn to summarize what they have learned in their own words, make flashcards to learn dates, spelling words, a foreign language, or math formulas.

6.  Praise your child!  Encourage them during hard assignments by reminding them of past successes, perhaps in sports, music, or in previously difficult subjects. Use direct praise for doing homework and even more praise for accomplishments, like "You've spelled 18 out of 20 words correctly--that's the best you've done this semester!"

7.  Look over the homework when it's done.  Do not correct it unless you have checked with the teacher.  Seeing the pattern of errors is often helpful to the teacher.

8.  Try not to let any of your own negative experiences keep you from supporting your child's learning.  Let them know how much you care about education by continuing your own learning both informally and formally.

9.  Get to know your child's teacher early in the year.  Find out about homework policies and expectations. Stay in touch with your child's teacher throughout the year.  Remember that you and your child's teacher both want the same thing- to help your child to learn and excel.